China is poised to take another leap in its ambitious space program as the Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft and its Long March-2F carrier rocket arrived at the launch area of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Friday. The transfer marks a critical milestone ahead of the mission, which will send astronauts to the country’s orbiting space station.
The spacecraft-rocket combination traveled 1.5 kilometers via rail on a mobile launch platform from testing facilities to the launch tower in northwest China. This mission will be the 10th crewed flight to the space station since construction began in April 2021 and the sixth since the station transitioned to its operational phase.
While the exact launch time remains undisclosed, authorities confirmed preparations are progressing smoothly. The mission underscores China’s growing capabilities in space exploration, with the station serving as a hub for scientific research and international collaboration.
"This launch demonstrates China’s commitment to advancing human spaceflight and sustainable space infrastructure," a spokesperson for the China Manned Space Agency stated.
